Pseudo-DHT: Distributed Search Algorithm for P2P Video Streaming

In this paper, we propose pseudo-DHT, an efficient resource location algorithm in peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming systems. A lookup overlay formed by participating peers provides a foundation for pseudo-DHT's register (key, value) and retrieve (key) services. Using pseudo-DHT, peers register their video contents information (key) with their network identity (value). To reduce retrieval latency, register (ldr) performs the alteration of a given key on a key collision. For retrieve (ldr), a query for a key returns a value associated with the key or a key closest to the key. We apply pseudo-DHT to P2TSS, a P2P system that provides both live and time-shifted streams. In P2TSS, a live video is divided and spread out in peers' buffers. Peers construct a chord overlay that serves as the base of pseudo-DHT. A theoretical analysis is presented to predict the search performance of P2TSS with pseudo-DHT. Extensive simulations show that our pseudo-DHT provides good scalability and low overhead, matching our analysis.